Losing can be satisfying
About a hundred million people are unevenly distributed to the 7,101 islands collectively known as the Philippines. The great majority of 95% is at the mercy of the ruling 5%. The select few include the moguls controlling the local economy and the bureaucrats sucking the life out of the national treasury.
There is practically no choice for the over-burdened citizenry but to swim against the tide and find ways to survive. We have to deal with low wages, high cost of utilities, almost non-existent government services populated by inconsiderate employees and high-rolling officials, life-threatening public conveyances and best of all, callously corrupt politicians.
Someway, somehow, we managed to keep our heads above water and continue to exist. Faith in God, persistence, determination and heart helps the general population overcome the struggle one day at a time.
Resiliency reigns supreme in our veins that even catastrophic earthquakes and typhoons cannot dampen the Filipino’s spirit to rise above the ruins. People whose lives had been completely altered by calamities have so far managed, no thanks to government inaction, politicking and childish bickering as to who gets the photo op when aids are to be distributed, if ever. We are so used to inconvenience that we improvise and make light of situations.
The above premises might as well relate to our campaign in Spain for the FIBA Worlds. We booked a ticket to the basketball world cup with the country and the whole wide world looking forward to a very sound spanking. As we all know by this time, Gilas Pilipinas, although without showing a win in four games, and we are not even supposed to win, has become the surprise team of the tournament.
The Gilas overcame overwhelming odds. As the smallest team entered in the tournament, the disparity was very obvious. We were, on the average, shorter by at least five inches. Like I said two paragraphs before, we are so used to being inconvenienced that our players found ways to rattle the best in the world to the delight not only of the Filipino fans but of the whole basketball universe. Had Jimmy Alapag been 15 years younger, NBA scouts would be salivating.
We lost a close 78-81 versus world #16 Croatia, fell to 5th ranked Greece 70-82, gave a scare to 3rd Argentina with an 81-85 decision. We could have won the game versus 17th ranked Puerto Rico but 19 turnovers killed us, with Andray Blatche, goodness gracious, moonlighting as a point center with disastrous results. We settled for a 70-76 loss. Our last defeat erased our chances of advancing to the next round.
We were considered gate-crashers of the event with everybody predicting, including me, losing margins of at least 15 points. Laban Pilipinas! Puso! And fight we did with a really big heart that we just averaged a losing margin of 6.25 points. The same cannot be said of the other Asian entries as they are being methodically and mercilessly annihilated by the opposition.
As I write this piece, we are still to meet Senegal, ranked 41st in the world. Hopefully we can show a win but the African team is also formidable with at least two players with NBA experience. Victory would still be elusive. No matter the outcome, in my book, Gilas Pilipinas are winners.
They deserved the Spain trip and we gained the world’s attention and respect, basketball-wise. If I could just control the world rankings, I’ll move the country at least ten notches higher.
The heavens knew what they were doing when they gave our race an average ceiling. Yes we lack the height and the heft but we sure have plenty of persistence, determination, endurance and heart. Had we been a taller race plus with the other God-given gifts, even the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, the brothers Gasol and the rest of the American and European basketball stars cannot keep up with us. They all would cry unfair.
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